A place for all things I love...

Saturday, June 28, 2014

DIY Drums

So for Kingsley's birthday I really wanted to make him these drums I saw on Pinterest.. Last Year! I know so pathetic.. I think I lost motivation since I was sick in my first trimester pregnant with Hudson, and as more time went on I sorta lost my vision of what style I wanted to go with them. Anyways luckily last second it all came together & I loved how they turned out. They were not that difficult once I set my mind to finishing them. I was actually over surprised and happy that Kingsley seemed to love them as much as I do :)
Kingsley just happened to be reading books in his teepee while I was getting shots of the drums. He loves his little reading nook.
Now I didn't take step by step photos of making the drums or anything but I figured I might as well include some instructions in case anyone was interested in making some.
You will need:
popcorn tins/hat box/oatmeal container
(or whatever you want to use for you drum)
leather or suede cord
(I got the white at Joannes and the mint on etsy)
leather for top & bottom of drums
(warning, this can be expensive so find a friend to go in on it with you!)
paint, or fabric depending on how you want to cover you drums
wood poles, ball knobs from craft store
fuzzy fabric
glue gun
scissors
leather punch
I used different materials on all the drums to have a variety of sizes and styles. First you need to cover your drums. I painted the popcorn tin with a grid pattern. The hat box I covered with a knit fabric I had, and On the oatmeal container I painted fabric and glued it on. Funny enough it took me the most time to paint the fabric and then cover the container, but it's also my least favorite.
After you have covered you drum you need to add the leather to the top and bottom. For example I put the popcorn tin on top of the leather and traced around it. Then I added about 1.5 inch and cut it out. You need to add extra around the circle, so when you cut it out it can fold over the drum.
You should have two leather circles cut out for each drum you are making. Now you need to get your leather punch and make holes around the edges to pull your string thru. I did mine about an inch apart.
After I punched out my holes I glued the leather pieces to the top. This isn't necessary, but I wanted mine to be extra durable since Kingsley is still to young to be soft with his toys.
Next step is to string your cord thru. Do it around the top and bottom leather pieces and then tie them off underneath the leather so the knots don't show. Then for the look of a real drum lace your cord up and down thru the top and bottom pieces till you get the look you want.
Ta da! Your drums are finished! Now all you need to do is make some sticks. I just covered the wooden ball with fuzzy fabric I had and glued both onto the stick. I made extras just in case he lost ones or a friend wanted to jam too.
Kingsley loves his drums and that they all make different noises. The oatmeal container is weak but he doesn't seem to mind.
I enjoy crafting although have the projects don't turn out how I want them to where this one actually turned out much better than I even thought! I'm excited that Kingsley loves to play with them and feels proud I made them for him :)

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Hudson is 8 months!

Oh man I love this little guy. He is just the sweetest little boy. He has the best little dimples and contagious laugh.
This  last month has been a roller coaster with this little one.  Him and Kingsley both got sick and it lasted almost two weeks! There was a lot of crying, runny noses, and rashes. Hudson can be very particular making him difficult at times. He is either the happiest guy on the planet or a hot mess. Unfortunately I think the poor guy has a really sensitive stomach so some days he just cries and twists in discomfort. Because of that I hardly nurse him at all anymore to avoid things in my milk upsetting him. It's easier to regulate what he is getting with just formula and baby food.
Hudson is totally a wiggle worm now a days. I dread changing his diaper and trying to get him to stay still. He is full on crawling now though he is not super speedy. He finally sits up but still tips over if he's not paying attention. This little guy loves to pull himself up on everything. The couch, chairs or tables. He also loves to climb in the cupboards. He was falling a lot earlier on but he has started to get more coordinated. I do need to baby proof since he has started to try and climb up the stairs.
Hudson's schedule is pretty consistent lately. I put him to sleep at 8-8:30 and he sleeps about 11 hours till 7:30-8. He does sporadically wake up here and there if his stomach is hurting. He wakes up and drinks a bottle and then him and King just play with toys in the morning. He eats breakfast which is usually rice cereal, and then takes his first nap around ten which usually lasts 1.5-2 hours. When he wakes up around noon then we usually go do something outside like swimming, lagoon, or just run errands. Then he takes his second nap along with Kingsley at about 2:30. I rock him to sleep while he drinks a bottle, about 4-6 oz. I love when Hudson wakes up because it is usually before Kingsley so we get some alone time. I love kissing his smiling sweet dimple cheeks! Hudson gets a little fussy in the evening since it is the longest he is awake, but he eats dinner and then just plays around until he takes 6 ounces of formula and is off to bed.
Hudson loves baths and water! He screams every time we take him out. He just loves to splash around. He has been to the splash pad and pool and really enjoys both. Hudson loves to follow Kingsley and Diesel around and pull their hair :) He loves lights and to put golf balls in his mouth.. I know super strange. He also like to crawl back and forth under the bed even though he usually bonks his head a couple times.

Hudson still hates the car seat and isn't a fan of the stroller either, which is very frustrating. He start crying and arching his back to get out the second we put him in the car seat and sometimes continues to cry most of the ride. Poor guy just really hates being strapped in. He is OK in the stroller but typically doesn't last very long until he wants me to hold him.
Hudson isn't quite talking much though sometimes he likes to sing/yell random gibberish. And on occasion he can say mama.
Hudson is really good at eating baby food but prefers solid food even more like little pieces of bred, avocado, or beans. Along with the dissolvable puffs. He is alright with the bottle but usually doesn't drink it all in the same sitting. He hardly nurses at all in the mornings just for a couple minutes or so. If Hudson is cranky he likes to suck on a binkie, but if not then he usually just chews on it.